Phone SURVEY RESPONSES FROM 210 VERIFIED CUSTOMERS
i

Marty W.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

Quality 10

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They are the best of the best. They are reliable, thorough, and they guarantee their work so if there is any oversight they will come back and fix it.

I liked the quality of the work they do, I would never hesitate to recommend them.

Tom C.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

2
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They make scheduling really easy and have good communication. The house is large so it was not an easy job, but they made the effort to come out beforehand and get familiar with the house which was really good.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

Quality 10

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

Diamond certified VIDEO PROFILE

Diamond certified company PROFILE

Smart Window Cleaning has been providing window, skylight, and screen cleaning services for residential and commercial clients since 1973. Service areas include Marin, Sonoma and Solano Counties, San Francisco, and parts of the East Bay. The company also provides power washing, gutter cleaning, debris hauling and house cleaning, and it’s now a one-stop shop for Realtors® who are getting homes ready to show.

As a locally-owned and operated firm, Smart Window Cleaning’s mission is to provide excellent service from the first point of contact to the end of the job, and to follow up with reminders to make scheduling future work very easy. The company’s clients range from small storefronts to large luxury houses and commercial projects.

President Damon Turner began his career at Smart Window Cleaning 30 years ago and uses his decades of industry experience to train all his employees in every aspect of window cleaning, from communicating with clients onsite to completing the job to each client’s satisfaction. “We focus on meeting our clients’ specific needs, expectations and schedules,” he says. “They really appreciate our dedication to their satisfaction. We’ve always strived to provide the best customer experience possible, and we’re now using our website to allow regular clients to schedule appointments and new clients to get online estimates.”

DIAMOND CERTIFIED RESEARCHED ARTICLES ON Smart Window Cleaning

Smart Window Cleaning CFO Eric Kennedy squeegees a customer’s window.

Company Profile

Smart Window Cleaning has been providing window, skylight, and screen cleaning services for residential and commercial clients since 1973. Service areas include Marin, Sonoma and Solano Counties, San Francisco, and parts of the East Bay. The company also provides power washing, gutter cleaning, debris hauling and house cleaning, and it’s now a one-stop shop for Realtors® who are getting homes ready to show.

As a locally-owned and operated firm, Smart Window Cleaning’s mission is to provide excellent service from the first point of contact to the end of the job, and to follow up with reminders to make scheduling future work very easy. The company’s clients range from small storefronts to large luxury houses and commercial projects.

President Damon Turner began his career at Smart Window Cleaning 30 years ago and uses his decades of industry experience to train all his employees in every aspect of window cleaning, from communicating with clients onsite to completing the job to each client’s satisfaction. “We focus on meeting our clients’ specific needs, expectations and schedules,” he says. “They really appreciate our dedication to their satisfaction. We’ve always strived to provide the best customer experience possible, and we’re now using our website to allow regular clients to schedule appointments and new clients to get online estimates.”

Company Philosophy

“We’re committed to providing the highest quality work for the best possible price. Ultimately, we strive to turn our steadfast focus on quality into the best level of service and communication in the window cleaning industry. If a customer is unsatisfied with our work, we’ll redo it promptly at no additional charge. We always treat our clients and their properties with the utmost respect.”

Comparative Summary

Few window cleaning companies earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award, which means they’ve been independently rated Highest in Quality. Even fewer can claim more than four decades of industry experience, but that’s exactly the case for Smart Window Cleaning. “We’ve been doing this longer than any other window cleaning company in the area,” explains President Damon Turner. “For our customers, it’s the total experience we provide that makes the difference. Our quality work, communication skills and the commitment we make to our clients are important factors in keeping them happy.”

Smart Window Cleaning cleans all types of windows, skylights and screens for residential and commercial clients in the East Bay and Marin, Sonoma and San Francisco Counties. In addition to its glass cleaning abilities, the company removes glass scratches and mineral deposits, power washes surfaces, cleans gutters and more. “We’re committed to providing the highest quality work for the best possible price,” adds Mr. Turner.

Unlike many of its less experienced competitors, Smart Window Cleaning’s employees are able to drawn upon the company’s four decades of business history to solve complex problems and provide top-notch work. “For us, window cleaning is second nature,” says Mr. Turner. “With our training and experience, we can anticipate and prevent problems before they happen. Our high-caliber employees take pride in their work and make sure every job is done perfectly.”

Another factor that distinguishes Smart Window Cleaning from other window washing firms is the manner in which it executes its work. “We make sure everything is done to our customers’ satisfaction,” elaborates Mr. Turner. “That includes paying attention to the smallest details, such as avoiding cleaning a room’s windows if a child is napping inside or skipping the outside of an area until the homeowner is ready for us to clean it.” The company is available to answer customers’ questions at any time and provides follow-up service checks to ensure they’re happy with the service they’ve received.

Industry Info

Save money by keeping your windows cleaner between professional cleanings. Whether you’re maintaining a home or a commercial building, there are a few things you can do to help keep your windows streak- and smudge-free between visits from a professional window cleaner. Consider the following tips:

• Hire a high-quality cleaning company. The cleaner your contractor can get your windows, the longer you can wait between cleaning visits. Insist that the window washing contractor you hire uses top-notch cleaning methods along with the best cleaning products and tools.
• Don’t hire a window washer who uses towels or rags to wash and dry windows. Towels, rags and cloths leave fibers (unless they’re specialty glass-cleaning cloths) that can make windows look dirty. Look for a cleaning company that uses squeegees and other professional tools.
• Determine what cleaning solution your window washing company uses. Some detergents and cleaning solutions help glass windows repel dirt, dust, smudges, water spots and fingerprints better than others. Ask your window cleaning company to use a solution that’s made from vinegar or ammonia and water, or a similar mixture that doesn’t leave residue and repels dirt rather than attracting it.
• If possible, schedule your window cleaning appointment for early morning or evening. Spots and streaks develop when the sun dries the cleaning solution before it’s completely rinsed and removed. You can often avoid sun-related streaks and spots by having your windows cleaned when they’re not in the full glare of the sun or during the hottest part of the day.
• Apply a barrier to your window glass. Some window washers will apply a glass sealant that keeps windows clean for up to six months. This barrier may be as simple as a coating of carnauba wax that’s carefully buffed away to help your windows shed water and dirt, or it can be an industrial product like Star Barrier that’s mixed into rinse water and leaves behind a protective polymer coating.
• Regularly dust the inside of your home. Dust can collect on glass windows, making them appear filmy and dirty. The less dust that collects on your windows, the more time you can wait in between cleanings.
• Invest in insulated windows and keep your home ventilated. Condensation can leave water spots and attract dirt and other debris to your windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much time will it take to clean my windows?

A: We’re able to determine time estimates over the phone or online by asking 10 key questions about the specifics of your home or business. Sometimes we accommodate requests to cut down cleaning time, like if a client has a time restriction and requests extra technicians to get the work done faster.

Q: How much will it cost to have my windows cleaned?

A: Our flat rate system makes it easy to determine the cost of a job. Basically, we charge a flat rate based on the number of employees and amount of time it takes to finish a job. We don’t charge extra for drive time in most cases, so that saves you money. Call us for a detailed estimate.

Q: How can I be sure your employees are doing the best job possible?

A: We only hire skilled, journeymen window cleaning professionals who are trained to do the best possible job on every project. We also have two incentive programs that reward them for taking the extra effort to do the job right the first time. We instill the same philosophy in all our staff members: The best way to work for our company is to do the best job possible and have it reflected in feedback from satisfied clients.

Q: When are you available to start?

A: In this industry, small companies can book up weeks or months ahead of time. We have a large enough staff of technicians that even in the busiest months, we’re normally able to schedule jobs within one week. And we’re always willing to take on new clients and handle their requests in a timely manner. Many of our clients want next-day service, and in most cases we can provide that.

Q: Can you provide a list of references?

A: Yes, we’re happy to give references. We’ve been in business for a long time and have taken care of a lot of customers, so when we give an estimate, we’re often able to provide the customer with a reference who lives in their neighborhood or even on their street. This gives our customers added confidence, because they can talk to an existing client and have their questions answered.

Q: Will your equipment damage the inside of my home?

A: No. We don’t use normal extension ladders like other companies. Instead, we use customized sectional ladders so we can work safely inside homes without marking up the walls. Our ladders have rubberized feet and foam protectors, and they’re smaller than extension ladders, so it’s easier to move them without accidentally damaging something.

SELECTED PHOTOS FROM Smart Window Cleaning

DIAMOND CERTIFIED EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR ADVICE & TIPS FROM Eric Kennedy

Expert CONTRIBUTOR PROFILE

Eric Kennedy is a veteran of the window cleaning industry and co-owner of Smart Window Cleaning, a Diamond Certified company since 2011. He can be reached at (415) 938-6902 or by email.

Eric Kennedy: A Clear Career

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

NOVATO — When Eric Kennedy started cleaning windows for additional income during college, he never thought it would lead to a lifelong livelihood. “My roommate and I were looking for a way to make some extra money, so we decided to try window cleaning,” he recounts. “We bought some tools, went out and did a couple of stores at the Northgate Mall. We did OK, but it didn’t really go anywhere, so I got a job working for a local window cleaning company where I could get formally trained. It turned out to be a natural fit—I enjoyed the physical work, as well as getting to work in and around beautiful homes all day. Almost 30 years later, I’m now co-owner of the same company I first started working for, along with my business partner, Damon Turner.”

As co-owner of Smart Window Cleaning, Eric says he appreciates the balance his position affords. “I’m not out cleaning windows anymore—I work in the office now—but I enjoy training our employees and passing on my knowledge of the trade. I also go out and do estimates for homeowners around the Bay Area, which gives me a nice balance between working in the office and being out in the field.”

A resident of Petaluma (where he lives with his wife, Suk Yen, and stepson, Aiden), Eric expresses his appreciation for its mellow pace of life. “It’s hard to beat North Bay living, especially here in Petaluma. In particular, my family and I love the Petaluma downtown area—besides having a historic aesthetic, it just has a good vibe.”

Outside of work, Eric can often be found riding bicycles with his family. “We like to put our bikes on the car and go riding in different spots around the Bay Area, like Tiburon or along the San Francisco Marina,” he says. “We also like eating out and going to the movies.”

In regard to his professional career, Eric acknowledges the contributions his employees have made to his company’s ongoing success. “The fact that what we do is seasonal can make it hard to retain employees, so we’ve been very fortunate that they keep coming back,” he explains. “If they didn’t, we wouldn’t be successful, so we really appreciate them and make an effort to maintain those relationships. It gives us a lot of pride that they continue to be a part of our team.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Eric he’d spend more time abroad. “My wife and I have a dream of buying a second home in Indonesia, which is where she’s from, and living abroad part-time. We’d continue to maintain a home here, so we could just go back and forth as we pleased. Hopefully that’s something we can afford to do one day.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: For Mexican food, it’s Mi Pueblo; for Vietnamese, we go to Thang Long; and for Italian, we like Sugo Trattoria.

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: An early bird.

Q: What was your favorite toy as a child?
A: My skateboard.

Q: If you could immediate master any musical instrument, what would you choose?
A: The piano.

Q: Would you rather live in the city or the country?
A: Probably the country. Fortunately, Petaluma has a nice mix of both, so I appreciate that.

Expert articles

How to Clean a Window

by Eric Kennedy, a Diamond Certified Expert Contributor

NOVATO — If you want to maintain your windows in between professional cleanings, you’ll need to have the right cleaning tools and techniques at your disposal. Start with the tools: Go to your local hardware store and pick up a strip washer (sort of like a mop that’s used on windows) and a squeegee. Once you have your tools, follow this technique:

1. Use your strip washer to wet and scrub the window. If you have baked-on dirt, you can use some #4 steel wool (the finest grade available) to get more abrasive power.

2. Starting at the top of the window, use your squeegee to “fan” the window by moving briskly from one side to the other in a downward direction. This will displace moisture and allow the window to dry without leaving fibers or smudges. As an alternative to fanning, you can also do a straight pull: Starting at the top, pull your squeegee straight across the window, then down to the bottom. Use a towel to wipe the moisture off your squeegee, then repeat this across-and-down motion until you’ve covered the entire window.

3. Towel the edges of the window frame and sill. While your squeegee will catch most of the moisture, there’s likely to be some remaining in the frame’s edges and corners. You can collect this residual moisture by going along the frame and sill with a towel.

Expert video tip

Video: How To Clean a Window

Complete Video Transcription:

NOVATO — Host, Sarah Rutan: If you want to maintain your windows between professional cleanings, you’ll need to know the proper technique. Today we’re in Novato with Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Eric Kennedy of Smart Window Cleaning to see how it’s done.

Diamond Certified Expert Contributor, Eric Kennedy:Hi, I’m here to show everybody how to clean a window professionally. A lot of people have a long time between professional cleanings and they want to clean their kitchen window, the living room, or whatever it is. So, I’m here to show you the right way to do it. So, I’m just going to get started.

This is called the strip washer. You can buy these tools at janitorial supply, or any hardware store carries them. This is just like a mop. We go ahead and we wet the window and give it a good scrub. Some windows, generally, are dirtier than this. We keep them pretty clean. This is not going to take me much to really scrub it. But if you got baked-on dirt, we take steel wool, #4 steel wool – it’s the finest grade – we take that and we scrub it. If you have baked-on dirt, food, anything like that, that will take that off. So, the next thing we have is our squeegee. This is obviously a squeegee. So, I’m going to do it the professional way. This is called “fanning.”

So, that’s pretty easy for me to just go through and fan it like that. I’m going to do it one more time and show people how they can do it without fanning. It’s a little bit easier. So, we just call this a straight pull. So, basically you don’t want a lot of water on the edge. You want to towel up the edge a little bit and have your squeegee real dry, and just pull it straight across and down.

And same thing. Dry it. Dry your squeegee. You pull it straight across and down. You keep going that (sic). And we’re going to dry the edge, we’re going to dry our squeegee, and we’re going to straight-pull it, and then, for the last one, since this is boxed in, what you can do, is just – same process – pull it across, but leave a line in the middle.

Right, so, all we do is take our dry towel – clean, dry towel – and wipe that, and it won’t leave a mark. And the other thing, that, if you get sloppy, some windows are a little more difficult, you leave a lot of water on the edge, you can take your towel – clean, dry towel – wipe the edge, both sides. And we can even wipe the top so it doesn’t drip down – any water at the top. We just towel up our sill, and that’s pretty much it.

Smart Window Cleaning

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Diamond Certified RATINGS ON Smart Window Cleaning

Rated Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise

Smart Window Cleaning

210 SURVEYS

RATING

9 CONSECUTIVE YEARS SINCEJanuary 2011CERT1698

DIAMOND CERTIFIED PERFORMANCE GUARANTEED

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CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
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Customer LOYALTY
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Helpful Expertise
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Each surveyed customer was asked, “If you needed any helpful expertise, did this company provide that expertise?” To calculate this score, total “Yes” responses were divided by total responses (excluding those that stated they hadn’t needed any expertise).

Company Credentials
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Workers Compensation

Liability Insurance

License Verification

Business Practices

Current Complaint File

Phone SURVEY RESPONSES FROM 210 VERIFIED CUSTOMERS
i

Smart Window Cleaning:
Average 9.2 out of 10 based on 210 unique customer surveys of customer satisfaction.

Marty W.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

1
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They are the best of the best. They are reliable, thorough, and they guarantee their work so if there is any oversight they will come back and fix it.

I liked the quality of the work they do, I would never hesitate to recommend them.

Tom C.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

2
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They make scheduling really easy and have good communication. The house is large so it was not an easy job, but they made the effort to come out beforehand and get familiar with the house which was really good.

I liked the quality of the job they did.

Carol M.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

3
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They're efficient, and they do a very nice job.

I liked how thorough they were, and they were very timely.

Kathy B.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

4
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

I thought they were hard working and pleasant people.

They worked diligently and they were pleasant to have around.

Lisa B.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

5
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

Reliable, and I have used them for years.

The reliability and fair price

Lynne B.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

6
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

I would recommend them.

They showed up on time, did what they said they were going to do, and they did a good job.

Greg B.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

7
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

I would recommend them.

Nothing

Janet C.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

8
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

I would recommend them. He was very good.

The guy was really great. We would use them again.

Peter D.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

9
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

I loved the service. The guy that came out was really good.

I really liked the service and the person that came out.

Robert D.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

10
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They are excellent at what they do.

They were on time and did great work in a very efficient way.

Michelle D.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

11
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They follow up on their commitments.

Nothing specific

Nancy F.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

12
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They do a great job. They are very thorough. They are great to work with and priced right.

I like the clean windows. I think they're good.

Margaret H.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

13
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They did a wonderful job. I was so so pleased with what they did. They were just marvelous.

The people were very friendly. They knew what they were doing. They just went about their work and everything they did was fine.

Pam H.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

14
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They were great. They are my go-to guys for gutters next time. They were fast, efficient, and high quality.

I was able to reach them easily and make an appointment easily. That's important.

Arthur J.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

15
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They were accountable. They came on time, and they finished the job as we agreed.

They did the job efficiently.

Debbie K.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

16
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They did an excellent job.

The quality of service and price

Sandy M.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

17
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

The guy who came out this last time was a genius. He was amazing. I've used Smart Window Cleaning for several years. They're reliable. They show up on time. This man was extraordinary. The other guys are good. It varies. Sometimes they're terrific. Sometimes they're okay. I always use them. I'm a loyal customer

I like that they show up when they say they're going to show up and they're very flexible. They always do what I ask.

Judy M.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

18
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They did an excellent job.

They did an excellent job.

Dru P.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

19
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

They're always prompt, reliable, and reasonable.

I like the ease of making an appointment. I think they're great.

Judy R.

VERIFIED Smart Window Cleaning CUSTOMER

20
of
210

Quality 10

1010

Loyalty
Yes

CRITIQUE

I ask for Mike to come every time. He does a very good job.

Mike is very thorough. He does everything and more than what I ask him to do. He's very good.